3302 Vs. 2501 (first tractor)

[Quadzilla32]

Hello,

I've been researching and reading a lot on the comparison of these two models and had some other more specific questions that i cant find.

I'm sitting of 40 acres right now in VERY flat Colorado and need a tractor for mowing (not very thick prairie grass) and general light "farm" work. I will eventually be getting a couple horse and such but no trees to clear or hills to climb. We don't get very deep snow so potential very light snow plowing on a 150 foot flat gravel driveway. Also, will be using it for light dirt work, light grading, and possibly tilling a small patch for wife's garden hobby.

These two options popped up...

2022 L2501- 94 hours, asking 19.5
2025 L33033- 24 hours, asking 26.5 OR 23.5 cant remember off the top of my head. Has warranty through 2030.

My worry is that with the light load of the 3302 the regen will be an issue plus i have read individual having issues with the regen down the road. I'm trying to keep it simple and while the extra HP will always be nice, but I'm not sure if the cost and regen will warrant the extra HP.

Honestly the tractor will see light work with the most work mowing flat and when I say flat I mean I can see across the world its so flat.

Thank you
Mike

 

[Rdrcr]

What elevation? I’m thinking for your planned usage, L2501.

Mike

 

[Quadzilla32]

What elevation? I’m thinking for your planned usage, L2501.

Mike

sitting at 6K

House is sitting on a big field basically with some taller weeds right now but once they get knocked down it will be light stuff. Used a riding lawn mower to clear a small section and it cut through it just fine.

 

[jimh406]

I'm at 4500 and hilly. I'd go L2501 like I did last time.

Buy implements with some of the rest.

 

[PoTreeBoy]

Welcome aboard! I was thinking L3901/2. It depends on what you're going to be mowing with, 40 acres with a 5 or 6' 3pt cutter is going to take a while. A 39 might pull a small batwing in your light grass.

In any case, by buying used you shouldn't lose much if you decide to change later. And if you go with the 2501, @Rdrcr can provide a turbo kit for some kick.

 

[Quadzilla32]

Welcome aboard! I was thinking L3901/2. It depends on what you're going to be mowing with, 40 acres with a 5 or 6' 3pt cutter is going to take a while. A 39 might pull a small batwing in your light grass.

In any case, by buying used you shouldn't lose much if you decide to change later. And if you go with the 2501, @Rdrcr can provide a turbo kit for some kick.

My fault for being more clear I don't plan to mow the entire 40 acres maybe mow 20 of it and let the back 20 be wild until i need it. mostly just going to clear areas as needed for animals or gardens. would be mowing with a brush hog style 60" deck or at least that is the plan right now.

is the Regen as big as an issue as people make it out to be?

 

[PoTreeBoy]

My fault for being more clear I don't plan to mow the entire 40 acres maybe mow 20 of it and let the back 20 be wild until i need it. mostly just going to clear areas as needed for animals or gardens. would be mowing with a brush hog style 60" deck or at least that is the plan right now.

is the Regen as big as an issue as people make it out to be?

I recommend 6' over 5. Considering the overlap, the 6 cuts more than 20% faster than the 5. We have a 6 on ~50hp NH. The neighbor has a 5 on the equivalent JD. I used it a little in her pasture last year, the tractor was fine but the cutter was painfully slow.

The DPF system seems to be low-problem when operated properly. I don't like to be told to stay over 2000 rpm, but with HST it shouldn't be as confining.

 

[Quadzilla32]

I'm just worried that for the foreseeable future mowing will be the biggest demand on the tractor and that will be not very often. if I'm just using it for light tasks i wont reach the regen rpms unless i push the throttle up.

 

[jyoutz]

I'm just worried that for the foreseeable future mowing will be the biggest demand on the tractor and that will be not very often. if I'm just using it for light tasks i wont reach the regen rpms unless i push the throttle up.

It’s not an issue really. I use my MX for light tasks at lower RPMs, then run it a bit higher for 10 minutes. Mine regens about every 60-75 hours. No big deal.

 

[jyoutz]

I recommend 6' over 5. Considering the overlap, the 6 cuts more than 20% faster than the 5. We have a 6 on ~50hp NH. The neighbor has a 5 on the equivalent JD. I used it a little in her pasture last year, the tractor was fine but the cutter was painfully slow.

The DPF system seems to be low-problem when operated properly. I don't like to be told to stay over 2000 rpm, but with HST it shouldn't be as confining.

I would not want to run a 6’ cutter with a 25-33 hp tractor. I run a 6’ cutter with my 60 hp machine.

 

[SDT]

My fault for being more clear I don't plan to mow the entire 40 acres maybe mow 20 of it and let the back 20 be wild until i need it. mostly just going to clear areas as needed for animals or gardens. would be mowing with a brush hog style 60" deck or at least that is the plan right now.

is the Regen as big as an issue as people make it out to be?

Most emission equipment (excepting DPF) has been mostly seamless to date.

Who knows how such things will work in the future as there is no long term reliability history.

 

[Shawn T. W]

I'd go with the 2501 of those two choices, and a 5' brush hog, if you go with a 6' it's gonna be long and heavy, while technically you could probably use it it in light grass, and if you really needed to you don't need to cut a full swath ... Buts is gonna be heavy, and you will probably need some weight in the bucket to steer ...

I have 19.6 PTO HP and run a 5' Bush Hog brand rotary cutter on grass, it actually only cuts 56", and is 8' long front to back ... It's a long tail!

IIRC both those tractors have the same loader, so lift capacity is the same.

 

[jimh406]

DPFs are no issue until they are. Many people have no issues. Maybe you’ll be one of those.

 

[PoTreeBoy]

I would not want to run a 6’ cutter with a 25-33 hp tractor. I run a 6’ cutter with my 60 hp machine.

The OM says 60" and 770# max. OP says he's cut some with a lawn mower, so it must be light cutting. I agree with you, a 50 - 60 hp utility tractor is hard to beat for all around duty.

 

[PoTreeBoy]

I'm just worried that for the foreseeable future mowing will be the biggest demand on the tractor and that will be not very often. if I'm just using it for light tasks i wont reach the regen rpms unless i push the throttle up.

You could keep an eye out for a larger, low-hour pre-2015 model. They seem to keep popping up out there.

 

[GrumpyFarmer]

OP, good day.

are You planning to mow the whole 40 acres? (How many acres plan to mow?)

if so I would think about how long that would take with the width of cut you are are planning and make sure that makes sense for your use.

if thinking about future livestock I would think about if you will need to move bales, unload pallets or feed, or move water totes.

happy shopping.

 

[McMXi]

Hello,

I've been researching and reading a lot on the comparison of these two models and had some other more specific questions that i cant find.

I'm sitting of 40 acres right now in VERY flat Colorado and need a tractor for mowing (not very thick prairie grass) and general light "farm" work. I will eventually be getting a couple horse and such but no trees to clear or hills to climb. We don't get very deep snow so potential very light snow plowing on a 150 foot flat gravel driveway. Also, will be using it for light dirt work, light grading, and possibly tilling a small patch for wife's garden hobby.

These two options popped up...

2022 L2501- 94 hours, asking 19.5
2025 L33033- 24 hours, asking 26.5 OR 23.5 cant remember off the top of my head. Has warranty through 2030.

My worry is that with the light load of the 3302 the regen will be an issue plus i have read individual having issues with the regen down the road. I'm trying to keep it simple and while the extra HP will always be nice, but I'm not sure if the cost and regen will warrant the extra HP.

Honestly the tractor will see light work with the most work mowing flat and when I say flat I mean I can see across the world its so flat.

Thank you
Mike

I would buy based on your known needs today, your anticipated needs, and a bit of a cushion for unanticipated needs rather than the possibility of issues in the future. No one here can provide any data to support the claim that DPF equipped tractors are likely to have issues at a later date. Another variable in the equation is that there are companies offering DPF delete services, so even if your tractor did need a new DPF 1,000 hours from now, which is highly unlikely if you understand and follow the regen process, you don't have to choose that option.

Also, a small tractor with a turbo is still a small tractor.

 

[JasonW]

I will add judging on the two options your budget is around $20k-$25k?

Find an older pre emissions Hydraulic shuttle M series that’s in good shape. During my search a few years ago I found several with high hours in good shape. As in with 8k-9k hour units that were really clean. You can find them around 2k-4k hour units that will be in the high range of your budget.

Plenty of lift capacity for future needs and match it with a 6’ cutter or larger.

 

[Quadzilla32]

OP, good day.

are You planning to mow the whole 40 acres? (How many acres plan to mow?)

if so I would think about how long that would take with the width of cut you are are planning and make sure that makes sense for your use.

if thinking about future livestock I would think about if you will need to move bales, unload pallets or feed, or move water totes.

happy shopping.

Plan to mow maybe 10/15 acres. The back half of the property for the foreseeable future will just left to grow.

 

[GrumpyFarmer]

Plan to mow maybe 10/15 acres. The back half of the property for the foreseeable future will just left to grow.

Without doing the math, that’s the better share of a full day I’d guess…maybe more Depending on how fast you can go and keep your teeth. (I dont think you would do much more than an 1 acre in 30-45 minutes…that might be pushing it with a 5’ cutter depending on your comfort and grass)